Burial vault lid carriage



5, 1959 G. E. EMERT 2,901,137

BURIAL VAULT LID CARRIAGE Filed Jan. 24, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet I 1 5 INVENTOR. A52 5 1 BY 2 a I 25, 1959 G. E. EMERT 2,901,137

' BURIAL VAULT LID CARRIAGE Filed Jan. 24, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z9 J5 59 J11 2 a5 if f6:

5,1959 G. E. EMERT 2,901,137

BURIAL VAULT LID CARRIAGE Filed Jan. 24, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. 6M5 5M United States Patent BURIAL VAULT LID CARRIAGE Gerald E. Emert, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Frigid Fluid Company, a corporation of Illinois Application January 24, 1957, Serial No. 636,058

'7 Claims. (Cl. 214-394) The invention relates generally to a carriage for lifting and transporting heavy slabs and more particularly to a carriage for handling burial vault lids and covers.

A general object of the invention is to provide a new and improved carriage "device that enables one person to lift, transport and place heavy slabs without the aid of the two or three additional persons heretofore required.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide a carriage of the character described having adjustable means making the carriage readily adaptable for handling slabs of varying thickness.

Another object is to provide a carriage which when swung from tilted, slab attaching position to transporting position actually raises the slab just enough to clear the ground.

Still another object is to provide a carriage so constructed that when swung from a tilted, slab attaching position toward transporting position the member providing the lifting force moves upwardly to a center position to lift the slab from the ground and thence to an over-center position to cause the carriage to be stable when resting in a generally horizontal position.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a carriage embodying the features of this invention. It is shown in normal position supporting a lid or cover preparatory to lowering the same onto a below ground vault.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the carriage shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view showing the carriage of Fig. 1 in a tilted position given the carriage for attaching thereto a lid or cover disposed on the plant floor or the ground.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, partially fragmentary, vertical ICE ground level vault. The carriage is designed for operation by one person, having engineered into it the necessary mechanical advantage to enable a single person by means of the carriage to lift a lid or cover from the floor or ground, retain it suspended beneath the carriage for a transport from one location to another with the carriage sectional view of the carriage, the section being taken to one side of the center line of the carriage.

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view taken from the left in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view on the scale of Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of Fig. 5 showing a detail of construction.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 88 of Fig. 4 and showing another detail of construction.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, it is herein shown and will hereinafter be described in a preferred embodiment. It is not intended, however, that the invention is to be limited thereby to the specific disclosure shown. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

As shown in the drawings for purposes of disclosure, the carriage comprises generally a frame 10 mounted on wheels 11. Extending in one direction from the carriage is a handle means, generally designated 12, while extending in the opposite direction is a nose piece 13. Rotatably having a normal stable position in which the attendant can place it and then leave the handle to go and operate the winch means 14.

The frame 10 is extremely simple and comprises a first member 17 having a yoke shape, that is, having a central or intermediate portion which is generally straight and a leg portion 18 at each end extending generally and approximately at right angles to the intermediate portion. The member is conveniently made of tubular stock and at the free end of each of the leg portions 18 has secured thereto as by welding a. flat plate 19 somewhat larger than the tubular member and octagonal in shape, as best seen in Fig. 8. Rigid with the member 17 which extends transversely of the carriage is a second member 20 which extends longitudinally of the carriage. Preferably though not necessarily the member 20 coincides with the longitudinal center line of the carriage and extends slightly forwardly of the member 17, that is, to the left as viewed in Fig. 2 and to a somewhat greater extent rearwardly, that is, to the right as viewed in Fig. 2. Brace members 21 extend diagonally forwardly and downwardly from near the right end of the second member 20 to the free end of each leg portion 18. The braces 21 are of course secured by welding or similar attachment.

Each of the wheels 11 has associated with .it a fork 22 including as a member connecting the tines or fingers of the fork (see Fig. 8) an elongated flat plate 23 the major dimension of the plate being in the direction of the axis about which the wheel rotates. Along each longitudinal edge the plate is provided with a plurality of apertures 24 while plate 19 is provided with but one aperture on each edge corresponding to the longitudinal edges of the plate 23. The fork 22 is secured to the carriage through the medium of the plates 23 and 19, suitable securing means such as bolts 25 being provided which pass through the apertures in the plate 19 and through selected ones of the apertures 24 of the plate 23. In this way, transverse spread of the wheels can be adjusted to adapt the carriage for use under differing conditions.

Winch means 14 comprises a Winding drum or rod 26 rotatably supported on the frame parallel to but spaced from the intermediate portion of the member 17. This drum or rod 26 is at one end operatively connected to appropriate and conventional gear means contained in a housing 27. The gear means includes an outward projection for the attachment of a crank for rotating the winding drum and a brake lever 29 for controlling the rotation of the drum under the weight of a lid or cover during a lowering operation. As already indicated, the winch means includes cables 15 here taking the form of chains. Four chains are provided, two intended to extend forwardly to engage handles 30 on the lid'or cover and two intended to extend rearwardly to engage similar handles 31. As best seen in Figs. 5 and 7, one each of a forwardly andrearwardly extending chain are united by a common link 32 and then by appropriate means, generally designated 33, secured to the winding drum 26 near the center thereof. Each chain terminates in a hook 34 for quick and ready attachment to or detachment from the handles 30 and 31.

To provide necessary mechanical advantage and to facilitate placing the carriage in position over a grave, the handle 12 is of substantial length. To facilitate transporting the carriage the handle is made detachable from the frame and such detachable connection is conveniently effected by having the handle of tubular construction with an outside diameter just slightly less than the inside diameter of the frame member 20, thereby permitting the handle to be partially telescoped within the member 2% and to be rigidly connected to the frame. A pin 35 passes through the member 20 and the portion of the handle telescoped therein so as to fix the relative longitudinal position of the two members. At the end opposite that received in the member 20 the handle is provided with a leg 36 of a length such that when it rests on the ground the handle member will be in substantially horizontal position. This can be considered the normal position of the carriage. Inasmuch as there is at times considerable force urging the leg 36 downwardly, it preferably carries a pad 37 to avoid digging into the ground.

In order that the carriage is stable when in its normal position, the various members are so related that the winding drum 26 is positioned on the rearward or handle side of a vertical plane passing through the axis of the wheels 11. This relationship of the members is, however, further coordinated in order that a lid or cover may he lifted free of the ground by manipulation of the carriage as a 'whole without necessity for the person using the carriage to manipulate the winch. To these ends, the member 20 is so disposed relative to the member 17 that the rearwardly projecting portion of that member forms a slightly obtuse angle with the depending portions 18, as best seen in both Figs. 1 and 4. The free end of the Winding drum is supported in this position by means of a short bracket member 38 rigidly secured as by welding to the member 17, the driven end of course being journaled in the housing 27. It will be noted that this location of the winding drum not only places it rearwardly of a vertical plane passing through the axis of the wheels when the carriage is in normal position, but it also places it rearwardly of a vertical plane passing through the intermediate portion of the member 17. With the rear pair of cables passing in front of the intermediate portion of the member 17, it is readily apparent that there is a foreshortening action that takes place on these cables during the employment of the carriage in lifting a lid or cover, as will presently be more fully made known.

Inasmuch as vault lids or covers vary in construction, particularly in thickness, some being flat slabs, others having a rounded upper surface such as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the nose piece 13 is made adjustable so that it can be made to project a greater or a lesser amount from the forward end of the member 20 and thus gauge the tilt of the carriage for proper operation thereof. The nose piece has a diameter such that it is receivable within the member 20 and it is provided with a plurality of holes spaced longitudinally so that through the medium of a pin 39 passing through a hole in the member 20 the nose piece can be axially adjusted to a desired one of several posi tions.

Depending from the handle 12 at a point just slightly rearwardly of the termination of the member 20 is a presser member 40. This member also carries an adjustable tip 41 and is provided to bear against a lid suspended beneath the carriage to act as a stabilizing means preventing the otherwise free swinging of the lid permitted by the cables.

Many of the advantages of the structures above described will best become apparent from a description of the operation and functioning of the carriage. Let it be assumed then that the lid 20 is lying fiat on the floor of the factory or better still on the ground at the cemetery, and that it is desired to transport the same to some other location or to lower the same onto the 'vault. In the past four men would be required to perform that operation, one man grasping each of the handles 30, 31. With the carriage herein disclosed the operation is easily and simply performed by but a single person. The person grasps the carriage by the handle 12 and wheels it over to the lid, placing it astraddle the lid as shown in Fig. 3, and tilts it in a counterclockwise direction permitting it to rest on the nose piece 13. Next the cables are hooked into the handles 30 and 31. Where the carriage is used primarily for transporting lids in a factory the nose piece 13 will of course remain properly adjusted and the cables 15 will also be left unwound from the winding drum 26 by an amount such that they are the proper length for hooking into the handles.

Note that in this position of the carriage a line passing through the axis of the winding drum and the axis of the wheels 11 forms an angle of less than 45 with a vertical plane passing through the axis of the wheels. This means that as the person manipulating the carriage tilts the same back to its normal position, that is, with the handle horizontal, the moment arm rapidly decreases giving the person an increasing mechanical advantage as the lid is lifted. Note also that because of the location of the ends of the cables engaging the handles 30 relative to the wheels 11 as compared with the ends of the cables engaging the handles 31, there is an initial tendency to lift the forward end of the lid first, thereby lifting only a part of the Weight of the lid, while the moment arm on the forward side of the fulcrum is a maximum and only later as the moment arm has been reduced and the mechanical advantage increased is the rear portion of the lid lifted. As the handle is swung further toward a horizontal position the Winding drum passes through center position, that is, Where it is vertically above the axis of the wheels and into an over center position. This takes place sufiiciently before the foot 37 strikes the ground or the floor thereby enabling the person to retain the carriage in lid-suspended position with the minimum of effort.

As can best be seen by a comparison of Figs. 1 and 3, due to the relative location of the winding drum 26 and the intermediate portion of the member 17 and the passing of the rear cables over the front of the member 17, a foreshortening of the cables, in effect, takes place during movement of the carriage from the position of Fig. 3 to its normal position in Fig. 1. This foreshortening functions to shift the lid forwardly and raise the rear end of the lid so that it bears forcefully against tip 41 of the presser member 40. In this way the presser member serves to stabilize the lid keeping it from swinging and reducing the inertia effect that would otherwise make tillning of the carriage around corners difficult or at least s ow.

If a lid is being transported from one place to another in a factory, when the lid has. been brought to its new location the person using the carriage simply tilts the carriage upwardly slowly until it again comes to rest in the position of Fig. 3. He then unhooks the cables and tilts the carriage back down to a comfortable position and pulls or pushes the same to the next lid to be transported. If, on the other hand, the carriage is being used in a cemetery and the lid is to be placed on a vault the carriage and the lid are placed over the grave in the position of Fig. 1 with the foot 37 resting on the ground as shown. This is a completely stable position freeing the person to let go of the handle 12 and walk over to the housing 27. Brake lever 29 is then operated to release winch means 14, and by grasping the nearest cable 15, for the purpose of guiding the descent of the lid, the person accurately lowers the lid onto the vault. It should be noted that cables 15 slide over member 17 during the lowering operation thereby co-operating with the gear means of winch 14 to provide a smooth, controlled lowering.

It is equally easy and simple for a single person to lift a lid from a vaultby the employment of the carriage. Again 'he wheels the carriage over the grave in the posltion shown in Fig. 1. He unwinds enough of the cables to permit attachment of the ends thereof to the handles on the lid 16. By means of a crank he then winds the cables onto the drum 26 until the lid has been lifted clear of the surrounding ground, that is, into the position of Fig. 1. He now grasps the handle 12 and wheels the carriage to a spot where he desires to deposit the lid or simply leaves the lid suspended from the carriage until he is ready to replace the same.

I claim:

1. A slab handling and transporting carriage comprising, in combination, a frame having a first member and a second member rigid with said first member and extending transversely thereof substantially intermediate the ends thereof, a wheel on each end of said first memher, a winding drum rotatably supported on said first member parallel thereto and spaced therefrom in a generally upwardly direction in all normal positions of the carriage, cables secured at one end to and wound on said drum and adapted to be attached at the remaining end to a slab to be transported, means for rotating said drum, a nose piece projecting from one end of said second member for contacting the slab and determining the angle of tilt of the carriage when swung to slab attaching position, and a handle projecting from said second member in a direction opposite to said nose piece.

2. A slab handling and transporting carriage comprising, in combination, a frame having a first member and a second member rigid with said first member and extending transversely thereof substantially intermediate the ends thereof, a wheel on each end of said first member, a winding drum rotatably supported on said first member parallel thereto and spaced therefrom in a generally upwardly direction in all normal positions of the carriage, cables secured at one end to and wound on said drum and adapted to be attached at the remaining end to a slab to be transported, means for rotating said drum, a nose piece projecting from one end of said second member for contacting the slab and determining the angle of tilt of the carriage when swung to slab attaching position, and a handle projecting from said second member in a direction opposite to said nose piece, said handle having a downwardly projecting leg for supporting the carriage with said handle in substantially horizontal position and a depending presser member engaging the slab when suspended to steady the same.

3. A carriage as defined in claim 1 in which the nose piece is adjustable.

4. A carriage as defined in claim 2 in which the presser member is adjustable.

5. A slab handling and transporting carriage comprising, in combination, a frame having a yoke-shaped memher and a second member rigid with said yoke member and extending transversely thereof, a wheel at each end of said yoke member, a winding drum rotatably supported on said frame to extend parallel to the plane'of said yoke member, cables secured at one end to and wound on said drum and adapted to be attached at the remaining end to a slab to be transported, means for rotating said drum and for locking the same against rotation, a handle extending from said second member and having a depending leg for supporting said handle in approximately horizontal position, said winding drum, handle and wheels being relatively so positioned that said drum is on the handle side of a vertical plane through the axis of said wheels when the leg supporting said handle is resting on the ground, and means limiting the tilting of said carriage away from horizontal position of the handle to cause a plane passing through the axis of said wheels and of said winding drum to form an angle greater than 45 and less than with the horizontal.

6. A slab handling and transporting carriage as defined in claim 5 in which the plane passing through the axis of said wheels and of said winding drum forms an angle of approximately 50 with the horizontal.

7. A slab handling and transporting carriage comprising, in combination, a frame including an elongated handle and a transverse member secured to the handle at a distance from one end thereof to extend at right angles thereto, a wheel, means for associating said wheel with said frame to arrange the axis of the wheel at a right angle to the handle and to dispose, when the handle is horizontal, the transverse member on the handle end side of the vertical plane of said axis, a plurality of cables arranged at one end for attachment to a slab, and means associated with said frame for holding the upper portion of said cables to control the lowering of the slab, said last named means being disposed so that at least one of the cables is forced against the transverse member by the weight of the slab when the handle is horizontal, and stop means provided on the frame on the side of said vertical plane opposite said handle end to abut a slab below said member and limit the angular movement of said handle end upwardly about said wheel axis and the angular movement of the transverse member downwardly about said wheel axis on the side of said vertical plane opposite said handle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 682,647 Scullin Sept. 17, 1901 1,023,024 McBride Apr. 9, 1912 1,933,751 Nelson Nov. 7, 1933 2,165,551 Iverson July 11, 1939 2,460,442 Aycock Feb. 1, 1949 2,547,601 Schierer Apr. 3, 1951 2,617,628 Wagner Nov. 11, 1952 

